The old mosque Bethal Muslim Jammat Muslims are proud to celebrate this important anniversary in the history of Bethal, since their origins go back to the days of the Anglo-Boer War. The first traders arrived by horse coach and they started off as hawkers, namely Messrs Ismail Cajee, Loonat and Boorany were opened. Mr I D Coovadia became the elected chairman of the entire Bethal Indian community. He was a charismatic and wise man, respected by both Black and White. The Muslim community contributed to many charities, performed social work amongst the needy and set sporting bodies in motion. A considerable amount of money was spent to make weekly sports matches possible. Bethal later became the centre for Indian sport in the Eastern Transvaal. The new Mosque The doyen amongst the elders is Mr A E Jasssat, who recalls how he motored to the then Lourenco Marques in 1928 in his new car to receive the new religious teacher of the community who arrived by ship from India. Since then there has always been a religious teacher to cater to the spiritual needs of the Muslims in Bethal. The present community consists of more than 200 members, a beautifully designed new Mosque in Milan Park with a community hall and school facilities, totalling more than R150 000 The Muslims in Bethal have proved themselves to be community and socially conscious, self-supporting, diligent and worthy of belonging to the society of the town. 121
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